The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I already tried the wooden dowel method and to be honest I found that even more difficult to cut around.

I like the washing up detergent trick, I'll try that next time. One thing that detergent is good for is easing the tubing onto the soundbox back when you have a clamping ring already over the top of it. For love nor money could I get the hose onto the back of the soundbox with the clamping ring insitu and the clamp wouldn't go on afterwards either. A tiny drop of detergent smeared around the inside of the hosing made the impossible possible in a matter of seconds.

Thanks for all the replies so far.